Monday morning UK news briefing: Today's top headlines from The Telegraph

1. Boris Johnson grilled by Sue Gray over Downing Street parties as Tory anger boils over

Boris Johnson has been questioned by Sue Gray over “partygate” allegations, Whitehall sources have told The Telegraph, as new signs of a Tory grassroots backlash emerged.

The Prime Minister is understood to have shared what he knows with Ms Gray, the civil servant overseeing the investigation into alleged parties at Downing Street during lockdown, ahead of publication of the report as early as this week. Read the full story.

2. British synagogue terrorist's family apologise to hostages and reveal they spoke with him during siege

The family of the British terrorist shot dead by the FBI in a Texas synagogue were involved in trying to negotiate his surrender during a ten-hour stand off.

The gunman, named by US authorities last night as Malik Faisal Akram,44, from Blackburn in Lancashire, had held four hostages including the rabbi at the Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville. They were released unharmed. Read the full story.

3. BBC warns Nadine Dorries will plunge it into a ‘spiral of decline’ by declaring end to licence fee

Nadine Dorries has declared an end to the BBC licence fee, prompting the corporation to accuse her of plunging the broadcaster into a “spiral of decline”.

In a war between the Culture Secretary and the BBC, Ms Dorries posted on social media that the next announcement about the licence fee “will be the last”. Read the full story.

4. Military set to tackle Channel migrant crisis as Priti Patel orders ‘pushback’ of boats to France

The military is to be put in charge of stemming the surge in illegal migrants crossing the Channel and could take charge of controversial “pushback” tactics to turn away boats at sea.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, is expected to announce the move within weeks as part of Boris Johnson’s attempted fightback. Dubbed Operation Red Meat, it is aimed at wooing back voters with populist policies after the “partygate” scandal. Read the full story.

5. Estate agents only have a dozen homes for sale

The average estate agent branch has just 12 properties for sale amid a national drought of properties being put up for sale.

Competition for homes has doubled in the last year, hitting unprecedented levels, as demand from buyers has far outstripped the number of available properties for sale. Read the full story.